Connecting Bow Use with Character and Phrasing

Tchaikovsky Rococo: Theme (Bow)

The arm and hand should feel upward and buoyant, not physically down or heavy
The right hand index finger starts each short note, with a light release that puts air and ring at the end of the stroke
Vibrato can enliven each note

The short notes in the theme are melody and need phrase shaping
Varying the dynamic shaping and rhythmic timing makes the repeats more interesting

The ear controls the hand: The start of the note, its length, ring, and dynamic shape are adjudicated by the ear
Short notes need a quick, buoyant start to create lightness and a dance character
Listen for an after-ring and resonance on the release of all short notes
Vary the bow stroke to give a melodic shape the first measure (and all other bars of short notes)
More bow evolves on each note to crescendo, less for diminuendo, and the ear should be certain the lengths still match
Theme should sound in 2 beats to a bar, not in 4